ARBITRATION BILL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 150, 6 April 1932, Page 2

ARBITRATION BILL

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE. \ AN AMENDMENT MOVED. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, April 5. In moving the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation amd Arbitration Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council to-day, the Leader of the Council (the Hon. Sir James Jarr) said lie did not propose to send the Bill to a Select Committee. The provisions of the Bill had been exhaustively discussed both inside and outside Parliament, and all that could he said, had been said, both on the part of employers and employees. The amendment was a drastic one. The note emphasised by the Bill was one of conciliation and good-will. Conciliation Councils in the past had been regarded as mere channels to the Court, and lie was afraid every effort had not been made to settle disputes in the Councils. The Government proposed to make an important concession to women workers, for whom a minimum wage would he secured. Women would have the right to approach the Court and ask that a minimum wage should he fixed. The concession .would, apply solely to wages and not to hours and general conditions. He agreed that there was room for disagreement over the provisions of the Bill, but there was no doubt that the Act was proving a drag on industry and delaying the general recovery. The Act was hindering the employment of thousands of men. It was significant that no other country but Australia had followed New Zealand’s example, and the workers of England and America had always opposed compulsory arbitration.

The Hon. Mark Fagan moved an amendment that the Bill should be read a second time that day six months. He believed the Bill was unnecessary, dangerous and unfair. He was not opposing the Bill-as a trades unionist, hut as a citizen concerned for the welfare of the country. The co-operation of all classes was needed at present, and they could not afford the risk of industrial disturbances. A strike would he a greater menace than the 1913 upheaval. They were making the strike the workers’ only weapon reductions in wages. He did not see how the abolition of the compulsory clause of the Act would assist the farmer. He had yet to meet the farmer who liad been driven off his land as a result of the operation of tlie Act. He did not believe the Bill would result in one additional man being given employment. The Hon. G. J. Carrington seconded the amendment. The debate was adjourned and the Council rose at 4.4*5 p.m. until tomorrow. AWARDS CONTINUE. MISCONCEPTION EXISTS. (Special to the “Guardian.”)CHRISTCHURCH, April -5. Under the new Arbitration Bill, existing awards are to remain in force until one or other of the parties make a move for review. The only difference in this respect between the old Act and the new legislation is that in the ease of awards that have n'ot completed their term permission is given for their review if they have been in existence for more than six months and have more than three months to run before expiry. It is not correct that immediately on the coming into force of the new legislation, awards made under the old Act will cease to exist. Awards will not ho destroyed by the new legislation.

No Early Rush. Mr 1). I. Macdonald, secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association, expressed the opinion yesterday that there would he no early rush of applications from either side for the revision of awards. It would be possible, he said, for isuch steps,to bo taken in respect to about 90 per cent, of the awards in Canterbury. That , number, however, did not coyer 90 per cent, of the employees, for the reason that two or three major awards, covering large numbers of workers, had been recently renewed. He anticipated that a start would probably b© made with the basic industries, in some of which.a large number of awards were operating. Efforts would probably be directed towards securing more uniformity and simplicity in these industries. In many businesses, however, he thought both sides would he content to leave things as they are in the meantime. Assessors. Under existing legislation provision is made for a conciliation commissionerand three assessors on each side to hear local disputes, while six assessors are allowed on each side for Dominion disputes. Under the new legislation the number of assessors is increased to four and seven respectively. In the event of the parties not coming to a settlement and the assessors decide not to send the dispute on to the Arbitration Court, the old award expires within a month and the employer is allowed to make whatever bargain lie likes with his workers. Industrial agreements under the existing law are permitted between parties, and these are filed with the clerk of awards. Parties not cited under such agreements can he added afterwards by consent. Under the new Bill no provision is made for industrial agreements as between separate parties.

Conciliation councils as at present constituted can keep on adjourning disputes, but under the new measure it is obligatory for the conciliation commissioner to report within thirty days of tho first meeting of the Conciliation Council whether an agreement has been arrived at or not.

The new Bill also provides that where the Conciliation Council comes to a full settlement the assessors shall

sign the agreement, and it comes into force immediately as ah industrial agreement made by the assessors on behalf of all the employers and the union. Those not cited may be added by the commissioner with a subsequent right of appeal to the Arbitration Court. In the meantime they are hound by the terms of the agreement.